NCAA Grants Waiver for JUCO Athletes Following Diego Pavia Court Ruling

The decision allows former junior college players with expiring NCAA eligibility to compete in 2025-26, while the NCAA appeals the federal court ruling.

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia's legal challenge led to a federal court granting him an additional year of NCAA eligibility under antitrust grounds.
The NCAA Division I Board of Directors issued a blanket waiver for JUCO and NAIA athletes with expiring eligibility, enabling them to play in the 2025-26 season.
The waiver applies only to athletes who competed at non-NCAA schools and meet other eligibility requirements, such as academic progress and the five-year clock rule.
The NCAA plans to appeal the court's ruling but aims to avoid further lawsuits by extending this waiver to similarly situated athletes across sports.
The ruling could have broader implications for college sports, including expanded NIL opportunities, changes to eligibility rules, and potential impacts on other sports like baseball.